A teenager has walked free from court after admitting having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

David Johnstone, 18, pleaded guilty to having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Johnstone asked the girl to go to the shops for him when the incident happened in April this year.

The girl returned to Johnstone's home in Grasmere Road, Hebburn, which he shared with his mother and younger brothers. She then stayed at the house overnight and the pair had consensual sex.

Johnstone, who has previous convictions for violence, also admitted a charge of common assault on another 15-year-old girl in March this year.

The court heard that he became involved in a fight between two girls and tried to set his Alsatian dog onto one of them.

Shaun Routledge, mitigating, said Johnstone had served the equivalent of a six-and-a-half month sentence while on remand at a young offerders institution.

And Judge David Wood passed an 18-month rehabilitation order after hearing that Johnstone had taken an NVQ level one course in painting and decorating while on remand.

Updated: 15.50 Wednesday, July 25